At least 24 Dead, 700 injured in Iranian Strikes on Israel

Iran launched several barrages of ballistic missiles at Israel throughout the weekend, sending Israelis across the country rushing to shelters as the skies were filled with streaks of light and fireballs from incoming projectiles and Israeli interceptions.

At least 24 people were killed and more than 700 people were reported hurt in the strikes. According to Magen David Adom, another person was seriously hurt and several more were moderately wounded. The rest were lightly injured or suffered acute anxiety.

Media reports indicated those in more severe condition were not in shelters when wounded.

Iranian media claims hundreds of missiles were fired, while the Israel Defense Forces estimated that the actual number stood at less than 100.

Several missiles impacted central Israel, with large explosions heard in the Tel Aviv area and smoke seen rising over several impact locations.

Home Front Command soldiers rescued a civilian from one of the buildings in the Tel Aviv area that was hit by a ballistic missile, the IDF said.

A large fragment from an intercepted missile hit a town in northern Israel, causing damage, police said.

IDF Spokesman Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin said most of the missiles were intercepted by air defenses or fell short before reaching the country.

“There are a limited number of impacts on buildings, some were caused by interception fragments,” he said.

An American official said the U.S. assisted Israel in defending against the missile attacks.

“I can confirm that the U.S. is assisting in shooting down missiles targeting Israel,” the official told AFP on condition of anonymity. No detail was given on the extent of the U.S. role.

The IDF called on the public not to publish the locations or footage of missile impacts. “The enemy monitors the footage to improve its attack capabilities,” the military said.

Phone alerts had been sent to Israelis shortly after 9 p.m., some 10 minutes before the first missiles hit, and sirens sounded shortly before their arrival in the specific locations under threat. The IDF’s Home Front Command advised people to remain in shelters until told it was safe to come out, rather than the usual 10 minutes when projectiles are fired from Gaza, Lebanon, and Yemen. The all-clear was eventually given around 10:10 p.m.

Another salvo of missiles was fired after 1 a.m. Saturday morning, with Israelis given the all-clear to leave their shelters some 25 minutes later.

Iran’s state news agency IRNA claimed hundreds of ballistic missiles had been launched in retaliation for Israel’s biggest-ever attacks on Iran, blasting Iran’s huge underground nuclear site at Natanz and other nuclear and military sites, and wiping out its top military commanders.

The Revolutionary Guards said they carried out attacks against dozens of targets in Israel.

Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said in a statement that Israel had initiated a war and said it would not be allowed to do “hit and run” attacks without grave consequences.

“The Zionist regime will not remain unscathed from the consequences of its crime. The Iranian nation must be guaranteed that our response will not be half-measured,” Khamenei said.

Defense Minister Israel Katz said Iran had “crossed red lines after it dared to fire missiles at civilian population concentrations in Israel.”

“We will continue to defend the citizens of Israel and ensure that the ayatollah regime pays a very heavy price for its heinous actions,” he added.